1. International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW): The ICRW is the primary international agreement governing commercial whaling. It was adopted in 1946 and has been amended several times since then. The ICRW establishes the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which is responsible for setting catch limits and other regulations for whaling.
2. Moratorium on Commercial Whaling: In 1982, the IWC adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling, which has effectively banned the practice except for limited exceptions for scientific research and aboriginal subsistence whaling. The moratorium remains in effect today, and there is no commercial whaling taking place in the Southern Ocean.
3. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (SGSSI MPA): The SGSSI MPA is a large protected area in the Southern Ocean that was established by the UK government in 2012. The MPA covers over 1.2 million square kilometers and includes the waters around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. All forms of commercial fishing, including whaling, are prohibited within the MPA.
4. Antarctic Treaty and Protocol on Environmental Protection: The Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol on Environmental Protection (Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty) provide a framework for environmental protection in the Antarctic region, including the Southern Ocean. The treaty prohibits any activity that could have adverse environmental impacts, including commercial whaling.
These laws and regulations are enforced by the IWC and relevant national governments. The IWC meets regularly to review and update the regulations and to ensure compliance with the moratorium on commercial whaling.